Cultural Approaches to Addressing Sleep Deprivation and Improving Sleep Health in Japan: Sleep Issues Among Children and Adolescents Rooted in Self-Sacrifice and Asceticism

Abstract

This narrative review examines the issue of sleep deprivation among children and adolescents in Japan, exploring its cultural origins and evaluating the current state of sleep education and interventions. It emphasizes the profound influence of the Bushidō spirit, with its focus on self-sacrifice and asceticism, as a core factor in the undervaluation of sleep in Japanese society. While educational initiatives and interventions highlighting the importance of sleep exist, significant limitations remain in improving sleep habits. Sleep deprivation continues to affect children and adolescents, despite its considerable impact on mental health and academic performance. This review presents a method for personalized sleep duration estimation and assesses its potential impact on improving sleep health by using optimal sleep duration calculations. The review also proposes practical steps to improve sleep duration through individualized strategies, integrating cultural context to mitigate the serious health risks associated with insufficient sleep. Ultimately, it underscores the need for targeted strategies to improve sleep among children and adolescents-particularly through personalized optimal sleep duration estimation-while advocating for a shift in cultural perspective beyond self-sacrifice and asceticism. The review highlights the importance of cultural transformation and suggests future research directions and practical applications.

Keywords: Bushidō; Yōjōkun; kamikaze pilots; optimal sleep duration; seppuku; sleep health literacy.

Figure 1

Sleep diary. Details on how to complete the log are provided in the text.